Dist. 203 considers names for new early childhood center

A Naperville Unit District 203 committee has narrowed the list of names for its new early childhood center to three.

The group's top pick is the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center, in honor of a longtime special education teacher in the district.

The second choice is the Naperville Early Childhood Center, followed by the Veteran Early Childhood Center.

The school board will make a final decision on the moniker for the school currently under construction off Naper Boulevard near Huntington Estates.

The three finalists were culled from a list of 69 suggestions from the community that later was revised by a committee of 22 students, parents, staff and community members.

Kitty Ryan, assistant superintendent for school services and programs, said the district's parameters for names included people who made a significant contribution to the district or community, people who are historically significant or geographic features.

Reid worked for District 203 from the late 1970s until her retirement about 10 years ago. She served as a teacher, speech-language pathologist and administrator. Reid had planned to return to help with the early childhood program, but was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2008.

Jeannie Matula, director of early childhood, said Reid also was instrumental in starting the district's phonology program and an at-risk program; her favorite quote was "bloom wherever you're planted."

"A lot of people in the early childhood program felt it really was a neat quote for what we feel like we do in early childhood," Matula said.

If the board goes with this choice, it would be the district's only school named after a woman.

As for the other two choices, the committee felt naming the school after Naperville would be a straightforward option, while its third choice honors veterans who have defended the country.

The $11 million early childhood center will serve preschool-age children with special needs. They will be joined by "typical" peers who pay tuition. The 48,000-square-foot building is scheduled to open in fall 2010.

Currently, children in the program are spread out over several schools, using facilities meant for older children.

Other names suggested for the center by the community included naming it for longtime educators Ron Gibson, Laura Peterson, Gene Drendel and recently retired superintendent Alan Leis. There were also politicians in the mix, such as Naperville Mayor George Pradel, President Barack Obama and former U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who died in August. Other suggestions were meant to describe the program - Building Blocks, First Steps and Small Wonders.